– The Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2, today in Game 5 of the Metropolitan Division Semifinals at Madison Square Garden to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

– New York has posted a 13-2 playoff series record all-time in best-of-seven series when leading a series three games to two after Game 5.

– The Blueshirts have won 11 of their last 16 playoff games at Madison Square Garden, dating back to a 2-1 victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Apr. 26, 2012 vs. Ottawa. New York has won at least two playoff games at home in four of its last six playoff series, and has recorded at least one playoff win at home in 12 straight playoff series, dating back to the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2007 vs. Atlanta.

– The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in 17 of their last 24 regular season and playoff games, and 19 of their last 26 regular season and playoff games at Madison Square Garden. New York has allowed 43 goals in their last 26 games (1.65 goals against per game) and 50 goals in their last 26 home games (1.92 goals against per game).

– The Rangers have won 10 of their last 11 regular season and playoff games against the Flyers at MSG. New York has outscored Philadelphia, 41-16, over the span. The Blueshirts have scored at least four goals in seven of the 11 contests, and have allowed two goals or fewer in all 10 victories over the span. The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in 18 of their last 22 regular season and playoff matchups with the Flyers.

– New York allowed 26 shots on goal in the contest. The Rangers have allowed less than 30 shots on goal in four of the five contests against the Flyers in this series, and lead the NHL in shots on goal against per game in the playoffs (24.6).

– Four Blueshirts tallied a goal in the contest, and nine different skaters registered a point. 11 different Rangers have recorded a goal in the series, while 15 different skaters have tallied a point.

Player notes:

– Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves to improve his record to 3-2 in the playoffs. Lundqvist has posted a 1.81 GAA and a .926 SV% in the playoffs, while allowing two goals or fewer in four of the five contests. The Rangers’ all-time wins leader has won 10 of his last 11 regular season and playoff games against the Flyers at MSG, posting a 1.37 GAA, a .949 SV%, and two shutouts in those contests. Lundqvist has appeared in 72 career playoff contests – including 71 in a row – for the Rangers, and is five games shy of passing Mike Richter for first on the Rangers’ all-time playoff appearances list.

– Dominic Moore tallied the game-winning goal, added an assist, and won six of seven faceoffs (85.7%) in 12:36 of ice time. Moore has tallied goals in consecutive playoff games for the first time in his career (two goals over the span). The Rangers forward is tied for the team lead in goals (two), is tied for fifth in points (three), and has won 62.5% of faceoffs taken (25-for-40) in the playoffs.

– Marc Staal tallied the game’s first goal and posted a plus-two rating in 18:56 of ice time. The Rangers defenseman has registered five points (three goals, two assists) in his last nine playoff games at Madison Square Garden. Staal leads the team in plus/minus rating (plus-six) in the playoffs.

– Brad Richards registered a goal, recorded three shots on goal, and was credited with three hits in 15:13 of ice time. The Rangers alternate captain has tallied a point in three of five games in the playoffs, and has recorded 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 12 career playoff games against Philadelphia. Richards is tied for the team lead in goals (two), and ranks second on the team in points (five) and third in assists (three) in the playoffs.

– Martin St. Louis recorded an assist and recorded a team-high, four shots on goal in 20:01 of ice time. St. Louis has tallied a point in four of five games in the playoffs, and has 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in his last 15 playoff contests. The Rangers forward has recorded a point in seven of his last eight playoff games against the Flyers, and has registered 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 12 career playoff games against Philadelphia. St. Louis leads the team in points (six) and is tied for the team lead in assists (four) in the playoffs.

– Brian Boyle tallied an empty-net goal, posted a plus-one rating, and was credited with two hits in 13:37 of ice time. Boyle has a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists), which is tied for his career-high in the playoffs. The Rangers forward has recorded a point in five of his last seven playoff games (two goals, three assists over the span). Boyle is tied for second on the team in plus/minus rating (plus-three) and fifth in points (three) in the playoffs.

– Derek Stepan registered an assist in 19:42 of ice time. Stepan has recorded a point in four of five games in the playoffs, and has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his last 10 playoff games. The Rangers forward is tied for third on the team in points (four) in the playoffs.

– J.T. Miller recorded his first career playoff point with an assist, posted a plus-two rating, and was credited with two hits in 10:22 of ice time in his NHL playoff debut. Miller is the second Blueshirt in this year’s playoffs to tally a point in his NHL playoff debut (Jesper Fast).

– Carl Hagelin registered an assist, posted a plus-one rating, and tied for the team lead with two blocked shots in 14:39 of ice time. The Rangers forward has recorded six points (three goals, three assists), along with a plus-five rating in his last seven playoff games at MSG. Hagelin is tied for fifth on the team in points (three) in the playoffs.

– Dan Girardi recorded an assist and was credited with a game-high, four hits in 25:59 of ice time. Girardi leads all defensemen on the team in points (three) in the playoffs, and is tied for the team lead in hits (18) in the playoffs. The Rangers defenseman skated in his 69th career playoff game, moving into a tie with Ron Duguay for eighth on the team’s all-time games played list in the playoffs.

Quotebook:

Alain Vigneault on today’s game…“I thought we played a good game. Each game, obviously, plays itself out differently. Today there wasn’t a lot of room in the first period and we took two penalties that we had to kill off. I thought that was real important for us and we got a little bit of momentum off of that, but saying that, because we had to kill those two penalties the flow of our game was a little different. In the second we were able to pick it up and capitalize on a few mistakes.”

Henrik Lundqvist on killing two penalties in the first period… “I felt like the penalty kill was really good today. It just had a tough bounce on their goal, but overall it was a really strong performance and we are going to need it moving forward as well. It’s a big part of winning right now, to get it done on the special teams. I thought we played a really good game, good energy. Looking back at the game in Philly, we did a lot of good things as well. The difference is today we scored a couple goals and that brings a lot of confidence to the group. It’s easy to play patient and not overdo a lot of things.”

Brad Richards on the mindset going into Game 6… “Same as it was today, same as it was in Game 4. We came out and played a really good period. We need to execute and play the game plan. Obviously, we would like to get a lead. They have been a way better team both times leading in the third period. It’s harder to get through the neutral zone and harder to get chances. We have to stick to the game plan and try to execute it the best we can all series.”

Seriously you cant not be happy for anything positive that happens to Dominic Moore.

Also, Nash sucked since he didnt score, Richards didnt suck because he scored, AV wasnt outcoached (didnt use his timeout so he sucks today), Emery outplayed Lundqvist allowing 0 goals, MSL is now tied with Callahan for 1 non-goal in the playoffs but has the 6 other points that count. Lets sign Hal Gill (s).

D. Moops deserved it today, but giving the kid the hat for a point and overall solid play in his first playoff game isn’t so bad. Plus, with the off-ice drama, it might send a “hey, kid, you’re one of us” message.

NHL.COM has Nash leading in several playoff statistical categories:
– most harmless shots on goal (23)
– most shots originating from an area code different from the goalie (20)
– least amount of time spent in the slot and corners per ice time. (.01%)
– shortest average shift (23.2 seconds)
– least # of ice bags required post game due to soreness from contact (0)

There was a knock on JT about showing up for camp out of shape, but after pretty much a full year at Hartford, don’t see how he could still be. Lots of unspoken mystery surrounds him, it seems. Even when he was drafted, I remember reading that he was problematic. Problematic how? Don’t know.

Ricardo – MSL is one sly fox, I love his defensive ploy of lowering his stick parallel to the ice stealing space from the opposition. He is playing huge. Tremendously gifted. Defensively, they aren’t where the were pre-McDunner’s injury but well played today. Stepan had a big game. 4th line playing extremely well – all three zones. Dom Moore is uber clutch….

Want to enjoy all the old foods again that you used to enjoy? Get the new, plastic Untuckit Choppers from Richards Industries. Call within the next 30 minutes and we will throw in the bottom parts and a complimentary carrot!

My maternal Grandmother was 1 of 12 children which included 3 nuns and 2 priests. I remember as a young lad having major anxiety during holiday gatherings thinking that the nuns at my school were talking to my family nuns about my behavior in school.

“My maternal Grandmother was 1 of 12 children which included 3 nuns and 2 priests. I remember as a young lad having major anxiety during holiday gatherings thinking that the nuns at my school were talking to my family nuns about my behavior in school.”

My maternal grandmother took a job at the town library in her golden years, although she stopped working there once I was school aged. There was a library book I had kept in a magazine rack, and my mother must have discarded the book when she got rid of the old magazines. I spent probably three years of my life avoiding the library and worrying that my grandmother would find out and hate me forever.

Why does NBC keep playing an M&M song that doesn’t have M&M in it? Or does he sound like a woman now?

Orr-

BC its probably the most digestible portion of the song.

Somehow, someone in the Garden contracted a band named Lettuce, to allow MSG to use their material for the Knicks. Its a really good band, I remember being shocked when I first heard them on a Knick broadcast.

I remember the days of Pearl Jam’s Hail, Hail before the start of the game, and STP’s trippin on a hole in a paper heart at the beginning of the second.

There’s a certain type of up tempo rock music, that I think is cool at hockey games. But just like the Garden I knew, those days are gone.